Failure to thrive

[Emmet's Mommy]

I wanted to share the story of my baby who was slow to regain his birthweight in case anyone else out there is going through it right now.  My baby was 9lbs 1oz at birth, 8 lbs 6 oz at hospital checkout and 8 lbs 3 oz at one week and wouldn't grow until he was near three weeks. And it has always been the atypical day with more than one BM. Since at least his 2 month check up he has been off the charts on weight first, and then weight and height, so suffice to say this is not something I worry about anymore.
Here is some of what worked for me and a few things I wish I had done.
 I personally thought breastfeeding (in the beginning) hurt like a son of a gun and I would audibly gasp at latch on and grimace throughout the feeding.  Somehow I decided to mask my discomfort (pain) and try to beam maternal radiance at my baby and his feeding improved immediately.  I have since read that babies look at their mother's face, and not knowing they are different people, feel the way she looks.  Huh.  Put on a happy face.  And don't make any negative sounds. 
 Call the hospital lactation specialist as long as you like them and find another one if you don't.   Try everything they suggest even though you don't feel like pumping.  You need to press the handle completely down on a manual pump.  I f you only do it halfway because it hurts you will do it ten times more and prolong the pain.
  Tell your doctor how scared you are.  If they are not worried this should calm you a little.  Re-iterate how freaked out you are until they understand that you think there is a problem. Then listen to them.
  Smell your baby.  Enjoy your baby. 
  If you are worried that your baby will get hooked on bottle feeding look into the various supplemental feeding options.  When your doctor says offer formula, don't think twice.  My baby guzzled formula from a bottle with the best of them but after six weeks he was getting all his milk straight from the boob.
   Find someone else to give the baby a bottle feeding at one of the night feeds so you can sleep.  FInd someone who can do this without the baby screaming its head off or you will have to wake up anyway.
  Remember you gave this baby life and if you can't be the food source-- so what?  Getting the baby here was the important part.  Formula is good food too.
  The baby will not stay a brand new baby forever and thats good.  They will get with the program eventually so just tgry to survive these early weeks.
 

[Samuel's mum]

Thank you so much for sharing your story. It's great that you were able to return to exclusive breastfeeding after your start. I was very lucky to have had such a positive experience with my early breastfeeding and it's valuable for me to hear stories like yours - Thanks.

[Shdef]

This is a wonderful thread and you are backed up by all attachment psychologists I have read so far. There is a certain hormone in the bowel that is released when the baby eats with joy. A feed is a highly sensual experience for a wee baby, the most enjoyable part of their life. If mummy is in severe pain and can't enjoy feeding, the baby won't enjoy it either. He will eat... maybe... but he will not thrive.

I was in terrible pain 6 weeks after giving birth and I couldn't pump, I also had to take medicine. It hurt so much I nearly squeezed him in pain. I switched to formula and DH fed him for a few days and then it was fine.

Great thread, thank you!

[beccarman]

i think as well it intereting to know that a lot of babies don't regain their birth weight for about 3 weeks - so i was told by a doctor friend, i think we just get worried (by doctors or by ourselves!) and expect them to pile the weight on straight away, their poor little bodies have a lot to get used to in the outside world!

[daisymelan]

Thank you, that was a great post.